Artists give new perspective on climate change

In a unique program – Climate is Change – two artists immersed themselves in the City of Onkaparinga’s natural environment, gleaned local knowledge and were privy to quantitative research conducted by the council’s Sustainability, Conservation, Biodiversity, and Spatial Information teams.

A significant feature of the program was that the artists had access to historic and current data as well as a 3D model of Onkaparinga’s coast, comprising 25,000 aerial photographs with accuracy of up to 100 millimetres.

Hosted by Sauerbier House Culture Exchange, artist Neville Cichon says his three-month residency gave his photographic art exhibition Filter “the language of science” and an extraordinary opportunity to “visually communicate on local and global issues”.

Inugural artist-in-residence, Laura Wills, says the multi-layered experience was integral to her July exhibition Woven Acts and Spoken Maps, particularly the natural environment of Ngangkiparri (Onkaparinga River) and the colours of the water catchment maps.

“The Climate is Change program has been beneficial to both the artists, who have worked really well with council teams to create works that allow people to see environmental issues from a different perspective; a collaborative perspective,” says Sauerbier House Coordinator Jaynie Langford.

Filter runs until 27 October and also features in Shimmer Photographic Biennale 2018 which ends on 14 October. Download the program at onkaparingacity.com or visit Sauerbier House, 21 Wearing Street, Port Noarlunga.